cooperation
Ukrainian Defense Review/January-March 2020
FROM PROCUREMENT TO CO-PRODUCTION Ukraine-Turkey Collaboration in the UCAV Realm
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obust development of military-technological ties between Ukraine and Turkey over the past few years has produced a varied range of projects, especially in the realm of unmanned aerial vehicles. After almost four years of negotiations, Ukraine signed, in January 2019, a contract with Baykar, the top leading producer of military UAVs in Turkey, to purchase six Bayraktar TB2 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs), three mobile Ground Control Stations (GCS), and six Canadian-made EO/IR imaging and targeting sensor systems Wescam, along with Maintenance kits and spare parts kits. Deliveries under the contract came in two equal shipments in March and October 2019, the shortest time for similar contracts ever recorded in Ukraine. The Bayraktar TB2, which is rated among the world’s best in this class of tactical armed UAVs, is the first and so far the only such system to have been adopted by Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Classified by international standards as a Medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle
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and Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), the Bayraktar TB2 can conduct reconnaissance and surveillance missions at quite long distances from its related GCS, and can track and engage targets autonomously. One GCS can support TB2 remote control and data links at up to 250 km away, which is a significantly long operational radius in a modern combat setting. The flight range is extended much more through Ground Data Terminal Systems placed on various locations so that during the flight antenna switching is handled automatically. The TB2 can fly out to 4,000 km from its starting point, flying a preprogrammed path in autopilot mode or, alternatively, taking over control from one GCS to another. With a camera payload mounted, the TB2 can climb up to 8,000 m and stay aloft in the air for 27 hours. In Ukraine, the six TB2s are now being prepared for operational deployment. In September-November, Ukrainian Air Force personnel were in Turkey undergoing a three-month training program to operate TB2 drones. As reported in late December 2019 by the Unmanned Aviation Depart-
ment at the Ukrainian Air Force Headquarters, Bayraktar TB2 operators will begin combat training with TB2s in late January 2020 after completion of training on simulators scheduled for earlier that same month. Bayraktar TB2 is currently awaiting to be registered and certified with the State Aviation Service of Ukraine. However, Ukraine-Turkey cooperation does not end with the TB2 contract. There has recently emerged
An artistic concept of the unmanned fighter jet looked at by Baykar and its partners in Ukraine
AI-25TL engine
